Origin
Missoula, MT
Evening in Missoula on Sunday
Local time
5:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Missoula, MT to Great Falls, MT
Drive Time
2h 52m
Distance
167.8 mi
270 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 41m
★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Missoula, MT
John De Leon
Great Falls, MT
Tomás Asurmendi
Trip Overview
Connecting Missoula to Great Falls, this 167.8-mile journey typically takes about 2 hours and 52 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $23 on fuel for this transit between these two Mountain West hubs. Navigating primarily via East Broadway Street, Van Buren Street, and the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, you will find the route manageable for most drivers. It is a practical path for those looking to traverse central Montana efficiently. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a predictable travel experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
83.9 miles from Missoula, MT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through local roads and the Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway, which demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because there are no long stretches of uninterrupted highway—with the longest segment on East Broadway Street measuring 0 miles—the drive requires consistent focus and gear adjustment. The personality of this road is defined by its winding local nature, contrasting sharply with the monotonous pace of typical cross-country interstates. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local geography from start to finish.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Broadway Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Missoula, MT to Great Falls, MT is easy. At 2h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Missoula, MT to Great Falls, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Van Buren Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MT 200 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 15 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| First Special Service Force Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 15 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central Avenue West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Broadway Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Missoula, MT and Great Falls, MT.
1
Start on North Higgins Avenue
20 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Higgins Avenue
2
Turn left onto East Broadway Street
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto Van Buren Street
436 ft
·
6 sec
·
Van Buren Street
4
Take the exit right
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
5
Merge slight left onto Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit slight right toward MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls
148 mi
·
2 hr 48 min
·
MT 200 East: Bonner, Great Falls
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 South: Great Falls
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 15 South: Great Falls
8
Merge slight left onto First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9.5 mi
·
8 min
·
First Special Service Force Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 15 Business
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 15 Business
10
Turn left onto Central Avenue West
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue West
11
Continue on First Avenue North Bridge
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
First Avenue North Bridge
12
Continue on 1st Avenue North
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
1st Avenue North
13
Turn right onto 5th Street North
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
5th Street North
14
Turn right onto 4th Avenue South
430 ft
·
24 sec
·
4th Avenue South
15
Turn left onto 4th Street South
230 ft
·
10 sec
·
4th Street South
16
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 52-minute drive time, aim to depart in the morning to maximize your flexibility once you arrive in Great Falls. Planning for at least one stop is a smart way to break up the technical, turn-heavy segments of the road. Keep your fuel budget of $23 in mind when mapping out your departure, and ensure your vehicle is ready for a route that lacks the ease of long, straight highway stretches. Since the route is manageable in a single day, you have the advantage of choosing your own pace without feeling rushed by the clock. Prioritize comfort during the trip, as the lack of long highway stretches means you will be actively steering for the entire duration of the 167.8-mile transit.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83.9 miles from Missoula, MT, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.9 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Falls, MT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Missoula, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Missoula, MT
This is one driving day of about 167.8 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Missoula, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.9 mi from Missoula, MT · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.9 miles from Missoula, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Great Falls, MT
The final approach into Great Falls, MT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Great Falls, MT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.59 one way
$53.18 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $27.95 | $55.90 |
| premium | $4.53 | $29.92 | $59.84 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.28 | $74.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.3 | 0 | $17.62 | $8.05 |
| Efficient EV | 42 | 0 | $14.68 | $6.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.1 | 0 | $23.49 | $10.74 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Great Falls, MT
Evening in Great Falls on Sunday
Local time
5:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 52m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Missoula, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 167.8 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Broadway Street, Van Buren Street, Jeannette Rankin Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.9 miles from Missoula, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.59 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Missoula, MT to Great Falls, MT is easy. At 2h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Missoula, MT to Great Falls, MT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Missoula, MT to Great Falls, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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